We came back from the Aveyron area of France with a large amount of the famous Roquefort cheese made there. Other than having tried some before after a meal, I had little experience with using it in recipes.

I mixed it with butter and put it on top of a steak which was very tasty. I used the same mix on top of toast and topped it with a walnut or a slice of pear as a snack which I liked very much.

 I made scalloped potatoes and added Roquefort to the mix which was great. I also made a quiche and put it at the bottom, underneath the egg mix, topped with shredded swiss cheese which was fabulous. The Roquefort added an intriguing slightly salty taste that I liked. I think my favorite thing that I made with Roquefort was twice baked potatoes. I microwaved two potatoes for about five minutes to get a jump start on the cooking, then put them in a hot oven of 450 degrees until they were fully done and the outside of the potatoes were crispy, about 30 minutes. I scooped out the cooked interior after cutting the potatoes in half, mashed it with butter, salt, milk and about two tablespoons of the Roquefort cheese and swiss cheese, then put the mixture back into the potato skins and baked them for 15 minutes or so until hot and fluffy. These were really terrific. I’ve come to love that taste of the cheese with potatoes.

 I did discover that my favorite way to eat Roquefort is by itself with a glass of wine. It went well with slices of pear or apple. And, now, all of the cheese is gone, if you don’t count the extra pounds I put on trying it out. It was a great experiment.

 There is a definite feel of autumn in the air from the cooler temperatures to the changing of the leaves and morning mist.

 An old gate to the chateau near us with some autumn leaves

 I think we are just about through with the melon season

The booming of guns heralds the beginning of hunting season here

 Lots of mist in the air every morning

An old weathered door in the village near us

The harvesting of grapes is beginning

 Provence has many days of sunshine but today isn’t one of them. We need the rain as there always seems to be a drought and it is nice to not have to get out there and water my pots. I’d thought I’d put up some photos of some scenes in Provence on some sunny summer days not long ago.

 A colorful pan of paella for sale at a market. I don’t usually buy it because I don’t like having to peel the shrimp to eat it after it is cooked, but it sure does smell good.

Candles lit in the small chapel in Ansouis

Color on the floor of the chapel when the sun shines through the stained glass windows.

I love the way the sun shines on this ancient wooden door

 A cheerful Provencal window

 I kind of wish I’d bought this pillow

An array of colors and fragrances in these soaps offered for sale

These colored beads always make me want to try my hand at making jewelry.

 A fountain in Lourmarin

This is Ella

 I’m not a proud grandmother or anything, but isn’t the sweetest little girl in the cutest little dress that you have ever seen?

 Autumn is on its way and the leaves around Provence are slowly starting to loose their green hues and turn mostly yellow. The temperatures, after a cool August, have warmed up for September and it gets up to 90 degrees every afternoon although it cools down to 50 everynight. Everyday is just about the same here with pulling weeds and thinking about what I want to plant when it cools down.

I planted some hollyhock seeds last year and some of them came up but they have never bloomed. I’m wondering if I gave them too much water and attention. I don’t understand why I can enter a village and see a hollyhock growing tall and blooming beautiful flowers while growing from a crack in some asphalt while mine just sit there. The same is true with my wisteria which has put out some leaves but never even one flower. The little fig tree we planted must need alot of water because it lost all of its leaves which only returned after a good rain, but no fruit ever developed. Of course, one growing wild down the road from us which no one ever waters is huge and gives many figs to whoever passes by. We have some oak trees our landscaper planted that are just hanging on by a thread and which seem to need an incredible amount of water but on our property are several oaks, never watered, totally ignorned, growing like crazy. Makes me crazy.

 The grapes are all turning purple and look just about ready to harvest to my amateur eyes.

A windmill in a vineyard not too far from our house.

 And, finally, a photo of peach melba, a recipe I posted a few weeks ago without a photo. Isn’t it a great color?

 Near our house, just over the mountain, is the charming village of Saignon. There are many B&B’s, a church, a lovely hotel made from an presbetery-? AUBERGE DU PRESBYTERE HOTEL APT - OFFICAL WEB SITE - CHARMING INN HOTEL LUBERON - HOTEL CHARME PROVENCE -I especially like the art work they use on their website. It is a very picturesque village, nice to stroll around and I always seem to take the same photos over and over again each time I go but I can’t help it-it always touches my heart.

 The graceful fountain in front of the auberge.

 There are ancient rocky cliffs by Saignon with traces of building from centuries ago-good look out point.

I see this lovely vine all over Provence. I must plant one in my yard.

A snail I could live with